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Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

...knew I shouldn't have mentioned Windy though. Split everything up, and now it's a right mess.
I've been worried about Windy for a while. I made a split plan from Greymere's solely based on that.

That being said, Time's Up: Rarity Searching seems to be the most "acceptable" plan for what people want, especially given how many other plans have fragmented off of it.
 
Thing is we are 0/4 on scraps for both Grail and Lantern, the two highly dubious sacraments that would require a prisoner. We also don't currently have a place to put a prisoner, or the proper arrangements to preserve one. It's just too much of a damn hassle to try and keep a high level Grail adept (one who hates us) imprisoned in a makeshift basement oubliette indefinitely while we wait to get enough scraps to do a Sacrament that might very well never come to fruition.
While I'm still a bit partial to taking Copper alive, you make a compelling argument. Darn, that's disappointing. It feels like our rate of scrap acquisition was much higher early game when we had time to read books and mess around in the Mansus. Also, I wonder how Our Lady of Wires is going to model the risk of a prisoner breaking out or generating suspicion. If I recall, in Cultist Simulator, the prisoners just die (of ill health?) after a period. (See the wiki.) But then
Additionally, as of the Dahlia update, prisoners no longer expire after 600 seconds. This makes it viable to gather several prisoners at once in order to…
So potentially they could just say prisoners get kept safely indefinitely just like the game. @OurLadyOfWires can you tell us anything about the prisoner mechanics you have planned? Or you could reserve your right to keep it secret of course.
If we're worried about Copper using guile to escape or screaming, it's possible to cut a prisoner's vocal cords, causing them to only be able to whisper. She is an earth pony, or otherwise I'd suggest cutting off her horn or wings. There is always dismemberment, which might also be used to gain points with Mareinette by feeding them to her; heck she could do the dismemberment without involving any of our other followers. Mareinette as warden is even starting to sound appealing to my ear. This is assuming the sacrament sacrifices don't require limbs for some metaphysical reason. Hopefully these things don't disgust people in the thread too much. (I think if Velvet is able to keep her hooves relatively clean by making Mareinette do the dirty work, she would be able to stomach it.) And of course the old ball-and-chain, hoofcuffs, or other implements would be options as well.

@Steady Gaze Plan Take them Alive have Memory of Light (but not says that Jade is the one who must do it) and one Search for Outsider action.
Fixed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. EDIT: Although
Jade Whistle (3 health, LANTERN 3, HEART 1)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." (Let her do what she wants, and hopefully rest)
-[] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[] [JADE] Something else? (WRITE IN)
is under "Exclusive actions". So it seems like Jade is the only one who can do the research?
 
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Here's a better tally :V

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 173 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 5284-5392]
##### NetTally 5.0.6

Task: 【NONE】
— Voters: 17

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 5

[X] Plan More Heart
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on work
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a victim lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…(Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
---[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies.
No. of Votes: 4
[◈] Plan: More Heart
[X] Alan975
[X] Lorrie
[X] Maer
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan Take them Alive
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (GRAIL)
-[X] (AXE) Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
-[X] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Lead the assault on Copper.
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book.
No. of Votes: 4

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) You need her to talk to somepony about…
--[X] Spy on Windy Flakes's dreams
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 3

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Working
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on work
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x2)
No. of Votes: 3

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
No. of Votes: 2

[X] Plan Outshine v2
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light"
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (GRAIL)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book.
-[X] There is something in Canterlot that you simply must find. Look for it. (Progress 0/200, applies Intrigue and Secret Histories) 3 times.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition.(The Grave on the Hill)
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry(Copper and her Cult)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to.
-[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent.
No. of Votes: 2
[◈] Plan: Outshine v2
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Limabot

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying, and Venerable Mareinette
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) You need her to talk to somepony about…
--[X] Spy on Windy Flakes's dreams
-[X][MAREINETTE] Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 2

[X] Plan: Talon-Ro Wartime Surveillance
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe. (Let Luna guard us)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… ("The Reflection of the Tapestry" seeking Copper Secateur's specific whereabouts)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… ("The Reflection of the Tapestry" seeking information on Windy Flake's current activities and whereabouts)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent
-[X][FLUTTERSHY] Ask Comet to go on an assault/expedition.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition. (The Grave)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Prolong her stay. (Gifting her the level six book found in the Grave expedition, if the book is unavailable then her choice of level five books.)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][AXE] Make Keys.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] There is something in Canterlot that you simply must find. Look for it. (Progress 0/200, applies Intrigue and Secret Histories) X2
No. of Votes: 2

[X] Plan Eliminate Threats. Setup for befriending 2 Names
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][SELENE] This body is new to her, but it is old to the world. She must learn of its abilities and privileges. (Grain +5 to her General Bonus) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Something else? (Expeditions Grave on the Hill)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Scry Copper and her forces.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Heart)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][Biedde] Lead the assault on Copper.
--[X] Priority 1 Unsummon/Flip the Winter Name, and retrieve the means of summoning ritual/Painting
--[X] Priority 2 Kill Copper
--[X] Priority 3 Retrieve all the valuables.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][FLUTTERSHY] Search for the Outsider
-[X][Jade] Search for the Outsider
-[X][Servants] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[X] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
No. of Votes: 1

[X] Plan Let's Get That Outsider:
-[X] A tighter security detail
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual…(Reflection of the Tapestry, aimed at COPPER)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] Attack your foe, or defend yourself. In war, there is no other option.
--[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent
-[X][MAREINETTE] Social Filthy/Spoiled.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition.
-[X][AXE] Make Keys.
-[X][SELENE] This body is new to her, but it is old to the world. She must learn of its abilities and privileges. (Grain +5 to her General Bonus) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book from Hill Expedition
-[X] Explore for the Outsider x4
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
No. of Votes: 1

[X] Plan Relative calm before the Assault
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Twilight Sparkle, if vetoed then search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (AXE) Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Moth 5 book.
-[X] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider. (x 2)
No. of Votes: 1

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 2)
No. of Votes: 1





Total No. of Voters: 17

The security detail vote is a bit of a mess, because some people are including it in the plans even though it seems like it's a separate vote, since it's not listed as a suboption in the update (has a [] rather than a -[]), but whatever. Everyone seems to be voting for a "A tighter security detail, at all times" anyway.

Edit:
While I'm still a bit partial to taking Copper alive, you make a compelling argument. Darn, that's disappointing. It feels like our rate of scrap acquisition was much higher early game when we had time to read books and mess around in the Mansus. Also, I wonder how Our Lady of Wires is going to model the risk of a prisoner breaking out or generating suspicion. If I recall, in Cultist Simulator, the prisoners just die (of ill health?) after a period. (See the wiki.) But then
It was, actually. We'd get scraps for just going about our regular activities quite often (we got a Grail scrap for initiating Rarity, for instance), not to mention lower level books were both cheaper and more common than the kinds of books we need now. But that just won't fly now that we're more knowledgeable about the Lores. Plus, the number of scraps we need is just going to keep increasing the higher level we get.
 
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[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
[X] Plan: Talon-Ro Wartime Surveillance
[X] Plan Relative calm before the Assault
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Working
 
Furthermore, a total of five legs, two intestines and one liver were missing. Given how all the bodies were found dismembered and scattered in a wooded area, and had to be pieced back together, it is possible that those organs and members were simply not recovered by field agents. Suspicions that all bodies were swallowed, chewed, and later spit out were easily dismissed by a reliable source. All cutie marks were relayed to the criminal database department for comparison with that of known criminals and…"
Well, we're near the Everfree. Scavengers could easily have gotten at the bodies before they were found and made off with pieces. It's a simple and actually fairly probable explanation.
 
It seems we're pretty unanimous on the broad strokes, it's just the little details such as Windy or prisoners that're splitting the votes.
At least the Velvet phase should be fairly simple :V

There's only so much you can do w/ 2 Loreless AP and a free social after all.

Edit: Also, random thought regarding Cherilee. I was wondering what Bird could do to make her unique from the other Confidants and not just be a spare body to throw at problems (e.g. Jade can research rituals, Rarity has her career, Fluttershy/Comet have their whole Thing). I wonder if she might be able to do something to help w/ manuscripts and/or our Secret Library? Since she is a teacher...
 
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. I was wondering what Bird could do to make her unique from the other Confidants and not just be a spare body to throw at problems

She could teach Starry...

Oh yeah we killed Starry.

She could teach others perhaps? Recruit for our cult maybe. Serve as a therapist for mental issues from pushing the lores unsafely (Eclipse has one of those).
 
Edit: Also, random thought regarding Cherilee. I was wondering what Bird could do to make her unique from the other Confidants and not just be a spare body to throw at problems (e.g. Jade can research rituals, Rarity has her career, Fluttershy/Comet have their whole Thing). I wonder if she might be able to do something to help w/ manuscripts and/or our Secret Library? Since she is a teacher...

I'm sure Bird will be happy to dust off the concepts he was mulling back in the first four or five turns when we were interacting with Cheerilee so often to make sure Silky was doing alright, not being bullied, and so on. In hindsight there were some pretty substantial "hey look here's a named character you can recruit!" flags being waved about.

What really struck me, as I've said before, was her unceasing optimism and her very interesting view of, "social continuity" so to speak. Espousing the idea of a hereditary aspect to the rhythms of life, the beat unceasing not because old things never die but because new things are always born. A thoughtful approach to a Lore that tends to be rather pigeonholed into dancing, drums, and general mania.

I blame The Grail personally.


She could teach others perhaps? Recruit for our cult maybe. Serve as a therapist for mental issues from pushing the lores unsafely (Eclipse has one of those)

Faust knows we need a therapist. Or even just an emotional advocate, a wellness coach? "Five Heart tricks to banish anxiety and reinvigorate your soul!"
 
[X] Plan Eliminate Threats. Setup for befriending 2 Names
[X] Plan Outshine v2
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging
 
also @OurLadyOfWires I had a potentially crazy idea, and I want to hear if it's viable.

What if we sent Selene to Windy's dreams to recruit him?

We trick him. We tell him that we managed to find AND recruit Luna, maybe that the Wolf or the Worms or something else got the Master but that we're now following his formed directions, Either because we're still going for Glory, OR we reveal to him that Glory is locked (no mention of outsider blood of course) and so we're now pursuing Harmony.
One thing at a time.

First, you have some liberty to tell other characters about Luna, but Luna also asked for subtlety. So, I am not sure Velvet would feel at ease to use information about Selene as a bargaining chip like htat.

Second, when it comes to dream-walking to contact other ponies, you have never tried that action before. So "try and find out".

And finally, when it comes to speaking to Windy in general... you think you two left in good terms? He is listed as an "opponent" during plan phases, but he is not clearly tagges as "ENEMY ENEMY WILL TRY TO KILL YOU" like Copper is.
The greatest concern Velvet currently has about Windy is that she has no idea of what he is doing, and that he showed Wolf-interest in the past. That, and you don't know how he took you betraying the cult. However (and importantly) he ALSO abandoned the Cult so... you are not sure where you stand?

But other than that, you two seemed to be in amicable terms?

Ehh, incomplete information is a bitch. And you have several other things clamoring for your attention as it is.

@OurLadyOfWires would winter allow a pony to resist having their dreams spied on?
Who knows.

(@OurLadyOfWires this may be of interest to you.)
Thank you kindly! This is very helpful for these kinds of votes. I'll look over the tally-leaders myself later, but I'm busy right now.

@OurLadyOfWires - wait, so if we don't channel an Influence this turn for Velvet to have actions, that means we need to grant Mareinette one action on the next turn?
What? No.

Here's the thing.

Velvet has four personal actions per turn. So, on the next voting phase, that is what you would have at your disposal.

But you have already given Mareinette one action, for her rebinding. So, you can expect to have three actions available.

Furthermore, since you are wounded, you can only heal up to ONE health point if you do nothing. You need to spend an action point to increase your healing cap to two (which I assume you will all want to do).

So, due to those circumstances, and since you are not interested in "covering your bases" thanks to your sorry state, I expect Velvet to only have two action points available for herself this turn. Which decreases the utility of channeling an influence from a Name.

That is what I meant to say.

Also to the general thread, looking to highlight this notice.
Hold that thought.

One thing I just remembered, @OurLadyOfWires are there any follower exclusive actions for Biedde,
Thank you! I will go add it now.

@OurLadyOfWires can you tell us anything about the prisoner mechanics you have planned?
No. But if you have a prison, and get your first prisoner, you will be introduced to it.



I'm writing an interlude. More later. Ping me if you need anything.
 
Mareinette giving a Heart influance is probally the best, that helps healing and should buff it enough not the need a action to heal the 2 wounds, if we spend money. Second Heart is also good for social.
 
Mareinette giving a Heart influance is probally the best, that helps healing and should buff it enough not the need a action to heal the 2 wounds, if we spend money. Second Heart is also good for social.
You need an action to heal two wounds, there's no way around it, the influence just buffs the chance of success.
 
Mareinette giving a Heart influance is probally the best, that helps healing and should buff it enough not the need a action to heal the 2 wounds, if we spend money. Second Heart is also good for social.
This is from this threadmark.

The mechanic to heal your wounds will be as follows, the same as before:


(NOTE, the following is not updated, it is a copy-paste from turn 13)
[] You are wounded! (You currently have 1 wound. You must pick one of each option.)
-For every single dice you roll, a success will only heal a single wound.
-All rolls are against a DC 70.
-You are currently afflicted by a "Not really helping it" malus, your rolls will suffer a -15 malus this turn. (EDIT: This might not apply this turn, TBA)
-You currently have an Artifact in your possession. It shall grant you a +30 bonus for your roll.
-Your current Heart application bonus is +10 (since this is a long-term process, you cannot apply Attention of the Laws to it). (EDIT: this is not updated to your current Heart level)

Rest, and time, are the only true remedies for a sick body. (You must pick one)
-[] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
-[] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
-[] You only have one body. Better take the time to care for it… (Costs 2 actions. Rolls THREE dice. 0/-15/-30)
-[] Your wounds are deep and numerous. You can't play around while you are like this. (Costs 3 actions. Rolls FOUR dice. 0/-15/-30/-45)
-[] You are almost broken. So, you will act accordingly. You need only your mind to plan vengeance. (Costs 4 actions. Rolls FIVE dice. 0/-15/-30/-45/-60)

The body will do its part. But science, and magic, may also provide. As long as you provide the proper "encouragement", of course. (The dices that auto-succeed will always be the ones that have the greatest penalty, and NOT the dices who roll the lowest results.) (You must pick one)
-[] You either don't care, or you don't have enough bits to care. Either way, your body will have to mend itself on its own terms. (Costs nothing.)
-[] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed)
-[] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[] It costs extra to have a nurse follow you back from the hospital. But everything is a service, and everything is for sale, if you have the bits for it. (Costs 90 bits. Three dice will auto-succeed)
-[] These are not illegal, they are just extremely hard to find. The fact that they are so hard to find that no regulation agency cared to declare them illegal, on the other hoof, is just a small detail. (Costs 120 bits. Four dice will auto-succeed)
-[] Most of the bits are to pay for his silence. His skills, however, are not to be disregarded. The doctor is so quiet that you sometimes forget he is even there, but he is never more than ten hoofsteps away from you. (Costs 150 bits. Five dice will auto-succeed)
 
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I do ask folks to remember that asking our servants to dig a makeshift prison under an abandoned (but tidy!) house is just a little bit suspicious, and with Rarity or Jade both having expertise in searching for an Outsider one way or another the current "fit the worker to the task" method of organization will default the Servant to the digging as a matter of "less bad at this than anything else we're trying to do.
If servants really generate suspicion then it is too a malus, and coupled with the fact that we were explicitly told that forge pony would be better it is not at all obvious who would be considered as a better choice.

Although have people considered having Rarity lead assault on Copper? We already tried to leave Name ( a Master) to deal with enemies and rescue prisoners and it did not went great. Rarity, and I assume here that pony in charge would have a major impact on the process, can guarantee that everything done in the most moral and humanly ponyly? way possible in regards to rank and file cultists, possible prisoners and bystanders.

Depending on how things go we can even credit her with capture of dangerous gang/rescuing prisoners/stopping monster rampage and boost her fame which should help with her career.

Or have her take charge and help to wean off cult ponies from Copper Grail. I mean she already reached peak of her career, it may be time to branch a little. Have Uncle Steppes help her with this and that. Fashionista by the day, Queen of Manehetten Underground by the night! (this part is the joke of course, unless...)

Based on what i have read, i don't think that we should obtain influences this turn.
Grail would be useful for social actions. But if we go without Influence I think giving Velvet SH book and searching for books in Ponyville may be best choice. We would need two Heart lvl 3 books to get to 2 scraps from Heart 4 then use Heart influence this turn or turn after.
 
There are still some ponies whose reactions I want to see to the attack.

Like, take our uncle. Last he knew about us, we had led a giant operation to take down the Blueblood noble family. Then, this month, we write him a letter asking about what the nobility opinion is on us, he finds out we have hired a super scary pony to work for us as some kind of enforcer and some days later there is an attempt on our life. He probably thinks that we suspected that there would be an attack and that it would come from the nobility.

Or Fair Trial, who is convinced that Celestia is giving ponies a final chance to see if they are worth saving so she went out of her way to convince us to leave judicial matters on her hands... and then there is an attempt on our life, when we were chosen by Celestia as Luna's direct subordinate and Luna's situation is still a trigger button. She is probably not in a good mood about this.

And Comet, who a few days before the attack was convinced that we were a monster that could potentially kill him in a fight, now learns that we were almost taken out by some thug with a baseball bat.
 
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
[x] Plan Let's Get That Outsider:

[x] A tighter security detail

I shall also propose a variant to make a prison. In case Outsider search requires 2 turns anyway, I would like to have a private prison available for our Name raid.
I think this new "Rarity Digging" plan is underrated and superior to all the other plans that create a prison, since they don't make a lot of time for searching for the Outsider. I'd like to have the option of capturing Copper available at least.
can you tell us anything about the prisoner mechanics you have planned?
No. But if you have a prison, and get your first prisoner, you will be introduced to it.
If we find out it's too difficult to keep a prisoner, we can feed her to Mareinette right away. (Don't forget that this approach also gives us information on prisoner mechanics for the future.)

I also think "Rarity Searching" is a good consensus plan.

I like "Plan Let's Get That Outsider:" (the colon is part of the plan name :V) as a plan that will likely find us the outsider ASAP. Frustratingly, I remember there was some discussion on how exactly the Outsider search dice work and how many we actually need, but it's kind of buried now. If anyone has a link handy…

For "Plan Take them Alive", I feel Mareinette's time is better spent directly on social rather than giving us a Grail influence, and I also would prefer more than one Outsider search action.

Various opinions I'm using when deciding on a plan:
  • I prefer having the option of capturing Copper, and thus having a prison, but it's not a dealbreaker.
  • I think assaulting Copper and dealing with any manuscripts, given the considerations with the Bureau, is pretty much required. (Thus "Plan Relative calm before the Assault" is out for me.)
  • I would prefer Selene be allowed to guard us; I don't think she would actually hate us if we don't, but it's a feel-good thing.
  • "Social Applejack" I'm sad about not being in any plans. (There is still Velvet's phase, but hopefully there are no important Grail-dependent rolls there.) There is a pattern of Mane 6 ponies having hidden (or overt) potential/being overpowered, so I want to see what kind of utility she might grant us.
  • I want to not let finding the outsider fall by the wayside. Assuming it reveals an expedition, I'd like to have at least 2 health, since it potentially involves combat, but it looks like we can heal more than one health in a turn.
  • I don't think Rarity has to work this turn. My impression is that she has a good chance of success regardless.
  • DoA knock lesson is interesting. We have one wrong key left that will expire at the end of the turn. If we have DoA make wrong keys next turn, will we have them as defense against rituals in the same turn? If so, that would be optimal for extending their expiration. I'm not sure though.
Yeah it seems like the thread collectively has been fairly competent; I really don't see any huge misses here.

Also, Mareinette has been really amazing lately. With helping us heal (as Our Lady of Wires noted, she didn't have to do that, and we should wonder how other names would have reacted had we been better friends with them), and spinning the story we want with the Bureau while we were unconscious, I'm starting to like her?

Plan Relative calm before the Assault
This is intriguing as the only plan that has us/Mareinette attempt to talk to Twilight, but I would rather leave that to next turn and have Selene enter Twilight's dreams. (Imagine if we had Mareinette for that crucial post-Catastrophe meeting with Twilight, given the results we can see her getting now? Ugh.) It will be a lot lower stakes, and she will be more open and even suggestible. (Sidenote: Twilight and Luna's interactions in canon, while not too remarkable, are a fertile area of thought in fanfictions. How did Luna relate to Twilight as the pony who helped free her from her nightmare state? And who became a princess too? I would also be remiss not to mention the shipping, but it seems improbable in this quest.)

(Edits for grammar)
 
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Although have people considered having Rarity lead assault on Copper? We already tried to leave Name ( a Master) to deal with enemies and rescue prisoners and it did not went great. Rarity, and I assume here that pony in charge would have a major impact on the process, can guarantee that everything done in the most moral and humanly ponyly? way possible in regards to rank and file cultists, possible prisoners and bystanders.


Personally my intention is to send our mob after Copper specifically, between Mareinette, Biedde, and Baldomare interrogate her for everything we need (documents, Winter-Name, invaluble treasures) and then kill her to finally tie off that thread. Afterwards her remains can be left as evidence of suicide or infighting amongst the cult, and everything else can be left in a disrupted mess for our Bureau to clean up and vent their fury upon. They've got the staff and capabilities to handle all that properly and without logistical/moral chaos.
 
Although have people considered having Rarity lead assault on Copper?
Y'know, no, I had never considered this. The imagery of 4 things Old and Terrible marching on Copper -- led by Rarity, fashionista extraordinaire -- is a funny one, and I'm glad I now have considered it.
the colon is part of the plan name
:V
Frustratingly, I remember there was some discussion on how exactly the Outsider search dice work and how many we actually need, but it's kind of buried now. If anyone has a link handy…
Lots of possibiltiies at AnyDice here.

Search is 1d100 + Intrigue + SH Application.

Baldomare + Servants + Anyone is at least 75% chance of success.

Without Baldomare, Luna + Rarity + Jade + Servants gets us to 62%.

Without a Luna action, we've got odds somewhere south of 25%.
 
I suppose of Rarity leads the expedition, that would free up Biedde to contribute to the Search for the Outsider? He presumably would have a higher bonus than Rarity at that.

I suppose he might, though it's really not a specialty of his unless his intrigue stat is a lot higher than I thought.

Which, in fairness, as an immortal guardian it could very well be.

Yeah I think I could support that adjustment.
 
Y'know, no, I had never considered this. The imagery of 4 things Old and Terrible marching on Copper -- led by Rarity, fashionista extraordinaire -- is a funny one, and I'm glad I now have considered it.
And don't forget the interesting narrative of 2 Grail adepts on opposite sides.

Well, we technically only have 1 thing Old and Terrible, the rest are just Old and scary.

Edit: and Rarity is also an Element of Harmony and not a minion for this turn so Harmony might tip the scales if she is the leader.
 
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I suppose of Rarity leads the expedition, that would free up Biedde to contribute to the Search for the Outsider?
Yeah, fair enough, I guess it's paying 25 bits for an extra +~21 on the Outsider search.

Probably the way to do it if we were doing it like this would be to have Comet lead the attack, and Rarity go on the Grave expedition (maybe lets us send DoA along, rather than Mareinette, since we'll have social actions better-covered).

Biedde + Jade + Servants has a 28% chance, Biedde + Luna + Servants has a 36% chance, Biedde + Jade + Luna + Servants is 75%.

We really need that Luna action for decent odds of success without Baldomare. It's possible we even get the action back, based on how the search goes. We can do a family social, do we really need her guarding? :(
 
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